Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will discuss the hiring process for an interim manager position during Tuesday's workshop.

Department business will begin the meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room. The board will consider requests from the Sheriff's Office including a Social Media Archiving Subscription, and an Oregon Department of Corrections Intergovernmental Agreement.

Public Works will bring the board a Carson Fuel Invoice, and Human Resources will present personnel requisitions.

The public may attend Tuesday's County Administration Workshop in person or online at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

The Grants Pass Community Veterinary Clinic will officially open its doors on April 8th.

According to the clinic, pet owners across the region have increasingly struggled to find timely appointments, with some traveling long distances or waiting weeks for basic wellness care. Clinic founder Kari Mendoza says the practice was built specifically to address that gap.

The clinic is located on Williams Highway on the same site as the former Animal Hospital of Grants Pass. The facility features modern medical equipment and exam spaces. The clinic emphasizes personalized care without production pressure.

The clinic will initially offer wellness exams, vaccinations, preventive care, and surgical services, with plans to expand based on community need. A strong emphasis will also be placed on client education, ensuring pet owners feel informed and empowered in every decision about their pet’s health.

Appointments will be available beginning April 8th. Community members are encouraged to follow the clinic on social media, visit the website, and call 541-476-8546 for scheduling and more information.

 

A man wanted on multiple warrants was lodged in the Josephine County Jail Sunday.

Grants Pass Police contacted Sean McDowell at Walgreens around 12:20 p.m. He had reportedly been drinking wine in the nearby Abby's parking lot at 1560 Williams Highway.

McDowell was wanted on three police department warrants charging him with Disorderly Conduct, Second Degree Theft, three counts of Third Degree Theft, Second Degree Criminal Mischief, two counts of First Degree Criminal Trespass, and a charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

Officers took McDowell into custody and lodged him in jail.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man trespassing in a vacant room at the Hampton Inn & Suites Saturday morning.

A call to 911 around 11:29 a.m. reported the suspect, later identified as Jonathan Beasley, was located inside one of the rooms by housekeeping at the 110 NE Morgan Lane inn. It was unclear how he got into the room in the first place.

Staff confirmed the previous renter of the room had already checked out, and upon contacting him, he said he was already traveling. It was also reported staff had seen Beasley wandering through the halls earlier that day. Despite being told to leave, he made no attempt to exit the premises.

Officers arrived and contacted Beasley. Upon confirming his identity, law enforcement took him into custody for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. He was lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility, and trespassed from the hotel.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged a man passed out with his pants down after a welfare check in Debo Park.

Dispatch was notified of the suspect by a caller driving by 510 SW G Street around 6:11 p.m. Saturday. It was reported the man was laying down next to the playground with his pants around his legs, but it was unclear if he was conscious or not.

Officers responded and located the suspect, Roman Kuznetsov. Upon contact, a glass pipe was seen in plain view next to him. The pipe tested positive for methamphetamine, so officers took him into custody.

Kuznetsov was transported to the Josephine County Jail where officers lodged him for Possession of Meth. He was also trespassed from the park for 30 days.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR, and Rural Metro Fire were dispatched to a commercial structure fire Sunday at 11:33 a.m. in Cave Junction

A local food truck called 911 to report the blaze occurring at the Illinois Valley Lions Club, 110 N Redwood Highway. Units observed smoke coming from the eaves and roofline. Entry was made into the building, and the fire was subsequently put out.

Pacific Power was contacted to verify the electrical supply had been disconnected, and the Oregon Department of Transportation provided assistance with traffic management.

The fire has been confirmed as extinguished, and the property has been returned to the occupants. The fire is being investigated.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies lodged a man wanted on a warrant and trespassed him from the Wolf Creek Post Office.

Deputies saw the suspect, Colton Shults, and attempted to locate him near Coyote Creek Road and Bloom Road Thursday at 10:13 a.m. He was quickly detained and taken into custody.

Shults was wanted for a warrant charging him with Parole Violation for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was also trespassed from the Wolf Creek Post Office from a previous case.

Deputies transported Shults to the Josephine County Jail and lodged him on his warrant.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police arrested a man under the influence and with his pants down on three department warrants Thursday.

The suspect was reportedly under the influence and staggering with his pants down near SW 5th Street and SW Central Avenue when dispatch was notified. A welfare was requested for the man, later identified as Robert Smith.

Law enforcement arrived and took Smith into constructive custody around 11:04 a.m. When contacting him, officers confirmed he was wanted on three active and serviceable warrants.

Smith's three police department warrants charged him with two counts of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, and Second Degree Criminal Trespass. He was taken into custody and subsequently lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

A man causing a disturbance at the In-N-Out Burger Thursday afternoon was apprehended by Grants Pass Police.

Dispatch was notified that the suspect was threatening the complainant and proceeded to throw a drink at the front window of the 124 NE Morgan Lane restaurant. He was also reportedly flipping off employees and yelling profanities.

The caller said the suspect walked down 7th Street towards the Four Seasons Car Wash when law enforcement contacted him near the Towne Pump. Officers identified him as Brandon Stradford, and knew he was wanted on four warrants, one from the police department, and three from Klamath County.

Stradford was wanted for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Second Degree Trespass, Third Degree Theft, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Officers trespassed him from the In-N-Out and transported him to the Josephine County Jail.

Stradford was lodged on his Grants Pass warrant, and it was requested he be cited to appear for his Klamath County warrants in Klamath Falls Circuit Court May 6th.